1 Communities in Hawaii

Excellent weather, beautiful surroundings, and a laidback lifestyle makes Hawaii an ultimate retirement destination. Active adults currently living on one of the eight major islands enjoy a unique lifestyle surrounded by the beautiful Pacific Ocean. Those living in an active adult community in Hawaii are typically not snowbirds as the distance to California is about 2,400 miles away. While Hawaii mostly caters to tourists there is a number of active adults who have settled down and now call this state home.

Climate & Geography

One of the biggest pros for active adults in Hawaii is the year-round tropical weather. Consistently staying between the lower and upper 80s, Hawaii experiences two distinct seasons, the dry season from May to October and the wet season from October to April. While most people do not think about snow when talking about Hawaii, there are times when it falls on the high mountain peaks of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa both on the big island of Hawai i.

The state of Hawaii consists of eight major islands, Hawai i, Maui, O ahu, Kaua i, Moloka i, Lan i, Ni ihau, and Kaho olawe. These islands are a mix of white-sand beaches and dense tropical forests among large volcanic mountains. The last active volcanoes on these islands are located on the southern half of the big island of Hawai i. With an ocean coastline of 750 miles, Hawaii is fourth in the country for total coastline.

Recreation, Culture & Entertainment

Once Hawaii became a state in 1959 tourism boomed and the secret was out about this beautiful state. Active adults in Hawaii will enjoy a rich sense of performing arts such as the opera at Honolulu Symphony or theatrical productions at the Diamond Head Theater. Other major cultural attractions include Honolulu Museum of Art, and the USS Arizona Memorial. Many notable residents hail from Hawaii such as Barak Obama, Nicole Kidman, and Jack Johnson.

Active adults living in Hawaii also enjoy endless choices for entertainment and recreation. Two national parks provide miles of hiking trails along with excellent opportunities for swimming or fishing. Many residents attend the annual festivals such as the Hawaii International Film Festival and the Merrie Monarch Festival which is an international hula competition.

Hawaii is home to multiple universities offering continuing education to active adults and retirees. The largest is the University of Hawaii with two campuses in Hilo and West O ahu. Brighman Young University also has a campus in Hawaii.

Cost of Living & Taxes

Hawaiian residents experience a higher cost of living than most places in the country, however it is still cheaper than living in New York City or San Francisco. A few reasons the cost of living is above the national average is that the median price of a home is the highest in the country and prices to move goods across the Pacific Ocean from mainland America is costly. These are things active adults and Baby Boomers should consider before they search for an Hawaiian active adult community. Hawaii also has a relatively high tax burden. High taxes are due to the state paying for education, healthcare and social services where the local governments would do that in other states.

Healthcare

Residents of Hawaii are covered under the Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act. This state law covers all working residents who clock at least twenty hours per week of employment. Under state law employers are required to offer health insurance to all employers after a four-week period. With about 289 active physicians per 100,000 people residents are never too far from medical services. The Queen s Medical Center in Honolulu is the best in the state and has met high performance marks in cancer treatment and Orthopedics.